Softball team enjoys experience in Puerto Rico

By Vic Jerald

Sports Information Assistant

MONTGOMERY, Ala.  – The Huntingdon softball team kicked off 2019 with a trip to Puerto Rico earlier this month.

The Lady Hawks left on Jan. 9 and returned on Jan. 13. In between, the team played four games at Donna Terry Stadium in San Juan and also enjoyed experiencing the sights and culture of Puerto Rico.

Head Coach Casey Chrietzberg on what led to the trip: "I had taken the trip before and I enjoyed it a lot. I thought it would be great experience for our girls to kickoff our season. We have a big group of seniors and it was just the right time for us to do it. I was really excited about taking them and sharing the experience with them."

Chrietzberg on first-time experiences: "We had three first-time flyers on the trip (Caitlyn Caffee, Madison Perryman and Lydia Lewis). Some of them struggled with it a little more than others, but ultimately it was very exciting because we all got to experience their first time doing something together as a team. To see their faces and experience that with them was very exciting."

Chrietzberg on the team bonding developed on the trip: "I believe this will help us a lot. We got to play softball, but we also had a chance to spend time together and have fun off the field. Being able to go paddleboarding and experience things together off the field was a good way to develop a stronger bond for these girls as we get ready for the season."

Senior Shelby Marsh on the experience: "When I first learned we would be going to Puerto Rico, I thought it would be a really cool opportunity to travel and I was really excited to do that with this team. I love the people I'm around on this team, and this trip was something a lot of people don't get to experience. It's something I'll always be able to look back on and say I was able to do with Huntingdon College."

Marsh on most enjoyable part of the trip: "We went as a team to go paddleboarding and we found starfish. We were laughing at each other and falling off the paddleboards and into the water. It was just a lot fun to be able to get off the field and still hang out with each other and have fun."

Senior Kaci Cochran on the softball portion of the trip: "As far as softball, one of the best things was run-ruling the University of Puerto Rico-Carolina. That was good because we had just come back from the break and we all played really well. It showed that everyone put in the effort over the break and we were still able to play as a unit." 

Cochran on what the team will take away from this trip: "I believe a lot of us grew together and I think that will be the biggest thing we'll take away. Just traveling together and being able to experience everything together, I think that has made us even closer as a team."